PLOS Biology

When it comes to fungi, we usually think of mushrooms or baker’s yeast. But while these are useful, there’s a sinister side to the fungal kingdom. Fungal pathogens can severely impact agriculture and forestry, and global trade risks introducing new…

Animals such as lions, pandas, elephants and polar bears are beloved by the public and appear virtually everywhere in our culture, from advertisements to children’s toys. Paradoxically, a new study published in PLOS Biology suggests that the popularity of these…

Obesity is a growing problem worldwide, but questions remains about its effects on our bodies. In a new PLOS Biology study, Robin Dando, assistant professor in the Department of Food Science at Cornell University, investigated how obesity in mice might…

Wearable sensors are not only great for counting your daily steps or tracking your heart rate during your morning jog; they can also help scientists conduct clinical research and gain insights into personalized health. In a new study published in…

If a bonobo and a chimpanzee were to meet face to face, they might be able to understand each other’s gestures, according to a new PLOS Biology study. Chimps and bonobos are closely related and were already known to share…

The principles of network science have been used to study systems from computer chip components to social media users. And while we have been studying the human body since ancient times, application of these network principles has now built the…

Marine life provides income and food for people throughout the world, making it important to understand how climate change might alter the balance of the oceans. In a new PLOS Biology study, Ivan Nagelkerken and colleagues constructed an aquarium system…

What research news captured the most attention in 2017? As we did for 2016, we’re reflecting on some of the most popular articles highlighted on PLOS Research News this year, with topics ranging from bioluminescent fish to smart watches to…

Antibiotic resistance poses a great challenge in treatment of serious bacterial infections, but development of therapies that could replace antibiotics in such severe cases has had limited success. In a new PLOS Biology study, Kristofer Wollein Waldetoft and Sam Brown…

Honeybees, principal pollinators in agriculture and natural environments, have suffered from colony declines in recent years. The bees’ pollen-rich diet and the bacteria living in their gut are known contributors to their health, and understanding the functions of bees’ various…